Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1887-05-26
Jack and l.

'oAu' "Ohs vi VIC mOFnlug VI Frluay, the
6th, succeeded in fording without much
trouble, the water came into my buggy. AT.
ter driving about mile found good grass
and camped for breakfast. Continuing
southwark 1 reached Vulcan, where took
the county road for Piedmont, assembled
steep mountain and crossed the divide, on
which there is some pine timber, which has
thus far escaped the woodman's axe. 1t is
quite relief to me to get away from Big
Creek. 1 perfer the Everlasting hills" to
the intuminable creek. Find the grass much
better the farther south get.
A large part OF the corn is up at this date,
and wheat looks well, though not very thick
on the ground. Isuppose it is not the thick
kind. Passing on down Mckinsey's Greek,
near to where they are taking out iron ore,
soon arrived at Piedmont, handsomely sit
uated little town, having number of fine
business houses, which seems to have live
ly trade. The roads are terrible-red clay
of the kind that stays with you. Camped
for the night two miles south of Piedmont
on the Moss Ferry road. The black gnats
are becoming troublesome.
Saturday, eth, crossed over the divide to
Black River by Judge Clarkson's mill, which
seems to do a fiourishing business. There is
another mill here, which runs narrow gauge
railroad up the valley some six miles for
logs. Crossed Black River on the ferry, for
which they charged me half dollar. A few
more such charges and perhaps they can buy
buggy! Passed by what had been a school
house, but of which all that remained save
ashes was five patent seats. did not learn
the particulars of the fire. Should judge
from the looks of the seats that it is an en-
terprising district. 1t is In Wayne county.
Following the State road up small creek,
traverse another divide along a pine ridge.
The road here is very fine, built before the
time of McAdam. Came down on the south
side to farmhouse, where one of the girls
was churning. She said if would wait a lit
tie could get some butter milk. Taking
in the situation at a glance l concluded to
wait. 1 sat down and chatted with the
barefooted girls, which was quite novelty
to me, not having seen any of the barefooted
variety before. Well, the churning being done
there was no further excuse for remaining,
so I tore myself away-not forgetting the
butter milk. Camped on the creek near by
and enjoyed this addition to my usual meal
to the full, being the first taste of this de-
licious fluid that 1 have had since leaving
Ironton. This is Carter county.
Crossing Little Black six or seven times,
on Monday pass through Doniphan, which,
like Rome, seems to be a new town built up
on the ruins Of the old. Everything is in
ship shape, houses all new and well painted.
Has fine brick courthouse. A branch of
the 1. M. r. r. runs to this point. This is
the county seat of Ripley county, some ten
miles from the Arkansas line. Ferried Cur
rent River, for which they charged me but
fifteen cents, and went into camp seven miles
south, on the Pocahontas road. Must be
nearing the "Sunny South" for this weather
would in Oregon be consider ed fair for July.
Tuesday, 10, started early and soon reach
ed little burgh called Middlebrook, con-
sisting of two stores and blacksmith shop
ing. 1t resembles buckwheat when it first
comes up, only smaller. Took the old mill
tary road leading to Little Rock. 1t is work.
ed only in spots, and consequently very
rough. Rain and hail fell to. day.
| Wednesday, 18th, crossed Eleven Point
River, one mile above the old military ferry,
fording the stream as the ferry was not run.
ming. Water deep enough to make it little
unpleasant. Drove on through a goo(
farming country, but cannot recommend the
roads. Once in a while see another passo OF
the road. One of these asked me if my name
was Bar, and if / was from Tennessee
Told him was no Bar, neither did L hal
from the above named state. Reaching
Spring River found the ferry here was mo-
running, so took another plunge for the
further shore, and found myself in little
town called Imboden, on the Kansas City
Springfield and Memphis r. r. Camped si1
miles south. This region is dependent fol
water upon cisterns rs wells cannot b,
found.
Thursday, 10Th, drove through Smithville
an old town of twenty five or thirty houses
the centre of quite large farming district
and nooned on Strawberry River. Thenc'
on through an old mining town, Calamin,
by name, connected with which there Is
bit of history. 1t is said some English cap
italists were running her for zinc, shipping
the product to the old country, Uncle San
''smelt a mousse" and the parties skipped
within two days. The ore proved to be silv
er. Camped for the night at some old cottor
gins on Reeds creek, where 1 obtained som,
fine samples Of cotton, some ginned and som,
| in the seed.
Friday, 18th, my. route to- day lay through
pretty fair farming country to Batesville
This place is beautifully situated on bill
overlooking White River. Main street is
very handsome thoroughfare, slopIng gently
toward the river, adorned by large fores
trees on either hand. The city contains som,
fine old fashioned residences. The popula
ton is 1,s00. A branch of the I. NJ. r. r
passes through here to the Magnesfa mines
some eleven miles above. Quite an extern
sive business is done in rafting logs from
above to this point, mostly in cedar, which
is here split into fence posts. The river il
navigable to this city the year round. Cross
ed on the ferry one mile below town ant
camped for the night. Some Of the corr
here in the bottoms is a foot high. E. l..
Batesville, Ark, May IS, 1887.
| Personal.
Mr.. r. W. Carter and family, st. Louis
were in town SUNDAY.